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Posted by: thepinetree on 11/03/2012 08:28 PM
Updated by: John_Hamilton on 11/03/2012 09:11 PM
Expires: 01/01/2017 12:00 AM
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End of the Season for Sonora Wildcats Varsity Football by Mike Quist
Sonora, CA...The big game, the one the each player marks on their calendars every year as the definition of their season, that’s right the “rivalry” game. For the Sonora Wildcats, that game was the regular season finale against the Oakdale Mustangs. For the 95th time on Friday Night these two teams got together and just like for the majority of the past decade or so it was Oakdale coming away with the win. This time by turning a close first half into a second half blowout 49-21...
Sonora certainly wasn’t helped at by several very “questionable” calls by the home town referees as it had been known that the head referee does not like Sonora but that didn’t cause the blowout, it does however help to demoralize a team. The lack of halftime adjustments by the Sonora coaching staff however did nothing to help the team as has been the case all season.
Oakdale got the scoring started on their first possession after a Sonora stalled drive as the result of a horrendous penalty call. They marched 74 yards down the field and connected on a 12 yard pass (kick good) to take the early 7-0 lead. After an off sides penalty on Oakdale during the kickoff, Sonora started their next drive from their own 37 yard line and started to get a bit of a ground attack going with a mixture of runs by senior Brandon Camara as well as QB keepers by Casey Holman. This sets up a nicely thrown pass to an open Joe Maloney for a 48 yard pass and catch for the first Sonora score (kick good) as the ‘Cats were right there with the league dominating Mustangs after one quarter of play 7-7.
Oakdale got back on offense to start the second and ran the ball in from 22 yards out to take the lead 14-7 which ended up being a lead that would not be relinquished the rest of the game. Sonora however had some fight in them as they drove the field but were stopped on 4th and 1 at the Oakdale 5 yard line after a terrible spot of the ball following a Camara run with proper ball placement after the run should have given Sonora a 1st and goal from inside the 4 yard line with under a minute left in the first half and a chance to tie the game. (Several horrendous spots of the ball went against Sonora). Oakdale was just going to run the clock out in the half but running back Marcus Northcutt broke free and was on his way to a 95 yard touchdown run until speedy Wildcat junior Ryan Puou caught up to him and dropped him at the 1 yard line as time expired allowing his team to go into the locker room trailing only by a touchdown.
Oakdale gets the ball first to start the second half and marches down the field using some crafty runs as well as passes and Northcutt broke open a 30 yard TD run (kick good) to open the game up a bit more. A dangerous, never should have been called pass play by Sonora was intercepted and returned 55 yards for a touchdown blows the game open 28-7. That was a play I watch them practice before the game and said to the people sitting near me that I disliked that play so much because the QB does not see the defense before throwing the ball. To their credit, the Sonora players yes emphasis on players did not quit. As slot back Cristian Lapertche connected on a 65 yard option pass to receiver Thomas Erwin to cut the lead in half. Oakdale was very quick to answer that score though with another big run this time for 42 yards before the 3rd quarter expired and took the big 35-14 lead into the 4th quarter.
Sonora was able to go down the field and attempt another scoring chance. Then a costly penalty moved them back to a 4th and goal from the 13 and a valiant effort by Lapertche on a broken play fell a five yards short handing the ball back to the Mustangs. On the first play of scrimmage from their own 5, guess what happens? That is right, a 95 yard run (kick good) makes it 42-14, followed by a 65 yard punt return after another stalled Wildcat drive makes it 49-14. Holman did give the Sonora fans something to cheer about when he broke through on a QB keeper going 56 yards for the ‘Cats most likely last touchdown of the season and setting up the eventual final score of 49-21 with 3:26 left to play in the season.
Sonora closes out their season with an overall record of 4-6 and 3-4 in league play. Oakdale finishes 9-1 and 7-0 in league and will likely have a home game in the first round of the playoffs.
Standout players of the game were seniors OL/LB Walter Leyva who seemed to be everywhere on the field like he was last week as well as usual suspect RB/LB Camara and mid-season replacement QB Holman. Such as happened so many times this season, the lack of second half adjustments were the tired Wildcats’ downfall. The coaching staff still refused to substitute key line players from time to time with capable junior players as poor and very predictable conservative play calling. Yes it is high school football, but changes need to be made with the coaching staff perhaps starting with the head coach. These kids work too hard for too long to be let down this way as football at this level seems to be a yearly sport instead of seasonal. I feel bad for the kids who bust the behinds only to be let down this way. It’s supposed to be fun too, remember that.
It was a bad night too for the Valley Oak League (no playoffs for JV level however) Wildcats as they too could not play up to the level of Oakdale and lost for only the second time in the season and first time in league play 32-0.
The news wasn’t great for Brett Harte either as they fell to their biggest rival Calaveras 51-24 closing out a very disappointing season. The Bullfrogs finished 1-9 and 0-5 in league. The Redskins finish at 8-2 and 4-1 in league.
Still waiting to find out if Summerville made the playoffs and who they will face.
Good luck to all local teams who made the playoffs.
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